Jenna Harte

Author: JHarte

  • Beta Readers Needed!

    Beta Readers Needed!

    I’m still debating the self-publish and traditional publish (assuming I could traditionally publish) route. But wanting to keep both options open, I’ve decided that I need to vet the first book with readers beyond my mom and sister. While I value their opinion, I suspect they are biased. So I’m on the lookout for people who enjoy reading mysteries (light, like cozies) that involve a little romance including some light behind closed-doors scenes (more than cozies, less than Nora Roberts). If you’re not sure whether you want to beta read, you can read and excerpt of Deadly Valentine here. If you like what’s there and want to read more, sign up to be a reader*:

    1) Subscribe to the email list to the right. Click the box that says, “I want to be a beta reader.”

    2) Confirm your subscription. You will automatically receive the first eight chapters of the book.

    3) Watch your email for information about the beta reading program and how to get the rest of the book.

    4) Please contact me through this site or by hitting reply to my email with feedback on what you love, hate, suggest or other ideas you have for the book.

    * Reader will be asked to answer a short 3-question survey to insure that the Valentine mysteries are a good fit for your reading preference. While I want all feedback I can get, if you’re expecting a full-blown romance (ala Nora Robers) or a hard-boiled detective novel, you probably won’t like the Valentine mysteries.

  • Book Three in the Valentine Series is Done…Sort Of

    Book Three in the Valentine Series is Done…Sort Of

    Although books one and two are not published, I have completed book three in the Valentine series. Granted, it’s a first draft only. There is still much to add and probably even more to cut. But the foundation is there.

    So far the only book ready for publishing is book one, Deadly Valentine, although I keep thinking of things to add or cut. Still, if one of the agents that I have sent a pitch to responded with “Send me the book”, I’d have no trouble sending it to them.

    Book two, Old Flames Never Die, is in it’s first draft form as well. After finishing book three, I determined it was time to edit book two. Boy does it need work!! But again, the bones are there. I just need to flesh it out.

    Although much work is needed, I’m proud that I’ve completed three full-length novels. I’ve written over 200,000 words…over 600 pages.

    I’m still vacillating on whether or not I want to self-publish or not. I suppose I’m hoping one of those four agents that have my pitch will help me make the decision (preferably by wanting to represent me).

  • Lethal by Sandra Brown

    Second to J.D. Robb, I love to read Sandra Brown. Her books always have unexpected twists and unusual story lines. Although my favorites tend to be her older books, her newer books are still pretty good. One interesting aspect of Sandra Brown’s books is how dark and unlikable her male protagonists start out to be. If you like dark, brooding men who are saved by a good woman, then Sandra Brown is your author.

    Sometimes though, they are too unlikeable or the situation is so unrealistic (i.e. Play Dirty). Lethal starts off just like that. Coburn takes Honor and her daughter hostage for a night, he kills the cop who shows up to save them, and then Honor leaves with him…voluntarily. Of course, it was the right thing to do, since the cop was dirty. But I wonder if I’d have gone with him, especially with my four year old daughter in tow.

    Despite that, the book was one of the better of Brown’s recent releases. Perhaps it’s the setting (I love books set in Louisiana) or watching how Honor’s daughter interacts with the hard, cold Coburn. Like all the books, the villain is a surprise, although it doesn’t leave you with the feeling of “Oh my God, I didn’t see that coming” that Sandra Brown is famous for. In fact, there is less and less of that with her new releases.

    If I could change one thing about the book, it would be the ending. It stops one scene short. (Spoiler alert….) the romantic side of me would have liked to have experienced Coburn’s reaction to seeing Honor step off the plane.


    Here are a few of my favorite Sandra Brown books:

  • Traditional or Self-Publish?

    Traditional or Self-Publish?

    I’ve sent out a handful of pitches to agents. So far only one has emailed back saying, “No thanks.” I’m no stranger to publishing so I know I need to accept rejection as part of the deal in traditional publishing. But with ebooks going like gang busters and hearing so many stories of self-publishers who are making great money selling their books directly through Kindle and Nook, I’m seriously wondering if maybe I should do that.

    I’m not sure I could get it out in time for Valentine’s Day, which would be perfect because book one ends on Valentine’s Day. But I’m sure I could get it out sooner than if I went through traditional publishing. I’ve actually already made a cover. It’s not perfect yet. And I’m not sure it really fits the mood of the book. Deadly Valentine is a murder mystery, but it’s lighthearted and romantic. This cover says “serious” to me. If you’ve read the excerpts and have an opinion, let me know. I’m on the hunt for good graphics to make a different cover. Perhaps I’ll have a poll to see which you think will be best.

    As I finish this post, it almost sounds as if I’ve made up my mind to self-publish. I’ve determined that I’m going to work towards that (formatting, editing and cover design take time), and if one of the agent’s I’ve contacted me are interested in the book in the meantime, then I’ll pursue that route. If not, and all the agents say “no”, my fall-back route will be ready.

  • Hitting “Send” is Stressful

    Hitting “Send” is Stressful

    There’s something too final about hitting the “send” button in email. There is no second chance to make a good first impression, so I stare and read and stare some more while my cursor hovers over the “send” button. Almost without fail, the error I’m worried about doesn’t reveal it’s self until after the message is sent.

    I read a lot of books and interviews from agents, so I know it doesn’t take much to send your submission to the reject pile. I think I do a good job avoiding some of the big ones like not sending a submission the agent doesn’t represent and not being cocky. But the typos and poor sentence construction are a challenge to me (I have yet to master the comma). I have a vision of an agent reading until the first little error and then immediately hitting delete. “There is no apostrophe in ‘its’ when it doesn’t stand for ‘it is’”.

    But there’s no way to get an agent without pitching, so I’ll keep hitting the “send” button until one says “Yes!”